BLS North East Weekend, 24th & 25th February 2018

The Branch Line Society organised a weekend based in Newcastle on 24th & 25th February 2018. Saturday was a safety training day for stewards held on the North Tyneside Railway (Stephenson Railway Museum) and conducted by Green Dragon Rail and was a highly informative and valuable day. On the Sunday the "Metro Meanderer" tour was run in conjunction with Tyne & Wear Metro and Nexus Rail, raising funds for the charities Mind and St. John Ambulance, as well as the North Tyneside Railway. The weekend also included a "micro-tour" on the Tanfield Railway on the Sunday evening, taking in the rare (for passengers) curve from the main line to Sunniside into the yard at Marley Hill. All in all, a great weekend that was most enjoyable. As usual a few shots to start with, more to add as time permits.

0-6-0T (IC) Joicey Collieries Railway No. 3 "Twizell" (RS No. 2730 of 1891) comes into Andrews House station to pick up BLS members before departing towards Sunniside with what would normally be an ECS move, after the day's running on the Tanfield Railway was over, to return the stock to Marley Hill yard. On this occasion a party from the earlier Branch Line Society "Metro Meanderer" had dashed across from South Gosforth to partake in a "micro-tour" to take in the curve from the "main" line to the depot, not normally available to passengers. The engine is about to shut-off before coming to a halt. 17:00, Sunday 25th February 2018, just before sunset. Digital Image No. GMPK4302.